ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

FTC fair information practice

The FTC Fair Information Practice is a set of rules that grown-ups use to make sure they are keeping your private information safe when you use the internet, your phone, or other electronic things. Imagine you have a secret toy, and you don't want anyone to know that you have it. That is like your private information, and you want to keep it safe from people you don't know or don't trust.

The first rule is that companies must tell you if they are collecting your secret toy information, and why they want it. Just like if someone asks you if they can play with your secret toy, you would want to know why they want it, right?

The second rule is that companies must make sure your secret toy information is accurate and up-to-date. Just like you would want your secret toy to be in good condition, the companies have to make sure they have the right information about you.

The third rule is that companies must have really good security to keep your secret toy information safe from people who might try to take it. Just like you would want to keep your secret toy in a safe place, the companies have to make sure they have good protection to keep your secret toy information safe.

The fourth rule is that you can ask to see your secret toy information and even ask to have it changed or deleted. Just like you can choose to give someone your secret toy, you can also tell the companies to give you your secret toy information or to get rid of it if you don't want it anymore.

Overall, the FTC Fair Information Practice is like grown-ups playing hide and seek with your secret toy information. They have to tell you if they want to play with it, keep it in good condition, keep it safe, and give it back to you if you want it.